After years of planning, the cohousing project Washington Commons in West Sacramento got a boost toward starting construction from an unlikely direction.
The coronavirus pandemic's smothering effect on a general sense of community prompted enough new people to sign on and get the concept off the ground, said founder Anne Geraghty.
"With this kind of project, so many people need to get on board," said Geraghty, who's looking forward to an official groundbreaking Friday morning, and the actual start of construction soon after. "I'm starting to decide what furniture to keep."
Cohousing features housing units built on one site with separate living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, but also a community room for meals and other gathering spaces. The most recent people to sign on took Washington Commons to reservations on 75% of its 35 units.
At 330 G St. in West Sacramento's Washington neighborhood near the riverfront, Washington Commons will be on about half an acre and be four stories. Units are one and two bedrooms.
Harrison Construction of Davis will be the general contractor for the project, which should cost about $25 million, Geraghty said. Once work begins, the project should take 20 months to two years to complete.
For Geraghty, the interest in cohousing dates back decades, to hearing a friend discuss her experience at Muir Commons in Davis, one of the first such communities. Planning for Washington Commons goes back more than five years, with hurdles that included finding a project site and signing up enough future residents.
Portland, Oregon-based developer Urban Development + Partners came on as part of a professional team the group's members brought on board about three years ago. Mahlum Architects Inc. and MFA Architecture and Planning of Portland are the project architects.
As new people have reserved their future units, they've gotten involved in the overall project planning. Geraghty said that's one of the components that's made the long road worthwhile.
"I'm getting a little emotional as I talk about it," she said. "What's most exciting to me is how happy the people are who are participating in it."
